Into the Forest discussion

So the winner of our theme poll was Water/Mermaids/Selkies.

This is your chance to nominate books that meet that theme. Please note that they should also have a fairy/folk tale, myth or legend connection as well.

I nominate . I've had it on my shelf for a long long time and I would like to give it a try!

I recommend Jane True! is the first in the series. Jane is a selkie, her friends include vampires, a handsome barghest, witches and trolls, oh, my! Here is my review of the first in the series:

Move over, Mercy Thompson, Kate Daniels, Sookie Stackhouse, and the other strong, wonderful woman characters that populate today's urban fantasy landscape. I love you all dearly, and hold my breath for your new books, but it is time to scootch over a bit, as Jane True has come to town! I just found Jane while perusing my local bookstore, and I couldn't be happier.

Jane is a very complex character. If you really haven't had any "life experience" (read here, if you don't understand loss, mourning, or the pain of living where everyone knows you, and holds your family's history against you) then you probably won't understand Jane. But if you do, her strength of character can absolutely rock your world, like it did mine.

Jane is a reluctant hero, and yet her ability to roll with the punches and become more than she had ever thought she could be is a HUGE encouragement to women who have been drug through the tunnel and come out on the other side stronger than ever.

The characters are well developed, the storyline keeps you guessing, and it is great fun watching how Jane grows and learns her own strengths - strengths she never dreamed she could possess. And she has a tremendous sense of humour, and a potty mouth to match. I have been spending my mornings, before work, sitting outside in the sun, reading Jane's exploits while laughing laughing like a loon at her hysterical dialog (her mental libido cracks have me rolling on the floor). She is strong, strong-willed, and one of the most likable of all the tough female urban fantasy characters that I adore.

May I make a suggestion?
Can we avoid PNR Paranormal Romance?
It's not that there is anything wrong with these genres, but there are lots of groups on Goodreads for These types of books already. This group is for Fairy Tales, Myths and Folklore and literature inspired by.
Does everyone agree on this?

Are we still doing YA and adult? If so, for YA I nominate September Girls. My research says this is a mermaid retelling, and it looks pretty controversial. You have people saying it's misogynist, and then people saying it's exactly the opposite.

A classic mermaid retelling I would like to read is Undine, from the 19th century. I nominate this one for the adult read.

Margaret wrote: "Are we still doing YA and adult? If so, for YA I nominate September Girls. My research says this is a mermaid retelling, and it looks pretty controversial. You have people saying it..."

Yes, one original Tale ( or collection of tales depending how long), one YA retelling and an Adult retelling.

We also have a bookshelf with lots of titles:

https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...

Okay, great. I'm not sure what the original tale is for mermaid folk lore. Wikipedia says Assyrian legends were the first occurrence of mermaids. I think most people think of Hans Christian Anderson, but the Undine novel I nominated is older than the HCA's The Little Mermaid. Perhaps it would be an original telling, though, like The Little Mermaid, it is a fictional re-telling?

Reading farther, I see the earliest mermaid lore is with Atargatis, a Syrian goddess of fertility. I'm sure somewhere on the internet is the complete mythological story of her turning into a mermaid...

The shelf is enticing! This book appeals to me most at first glance
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
and also this
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
but perhaps these don't fit the plan!

Margaret wrote: "Okay, great. I'm not sure what the original tale is for mermaid folk lore. Wikipedia says Assyrian legends were the first occurrence of mermaids. I think most people think of Hans Christian Anderso..."

Yes, I believe this is correct Margaret. Mermaid lore existed already in Assyrian legends. I imagine they also were in Phoenicia Myths too.

For YA perhapsA Stranger Came Ashore by Mollie Hunter which is about a selkie from Shetland Islands legends.

For YA The Changeling Sea by Patricia A. McKillip
For Adult: The Riddle-Master of Hed by Patricia A. McKillip

Both with mysterious sea being crucial to the tale, and elements of Celtic lore.

I haven't read it yet, but The Drowning World is on my TBR list. It's a mermaid YA novel.

What about the original ? I was always curious to read it but never had the "courage" to do so.

Besides, most of the books on my mermaids/selkies/sea creatures tag are paranormal romance, and Jalilah suggested against those.

Isabella wrote: "What about the original ..Besides, most of the books on my mermaids/selkies/sea creatures tag are paranormal romance, and Jalilah suggested against those. ."

I did not mean to make it sound too restrictive Isabella, I too noticed when I was looking for a Greek. - Roman Myth retelling that almost everything I found was either romance or PN romance.
I was thinking more along the lines of all the PNR series. For example, one could say the Mercedes Thompson series has fairy tales/myths. I actually like that series and think Patricia Briggs does does a good job putting various faerie tale folklore tales into her novels. However as I said already, there are already so many GR groups reading those kind of books already.

It's alright, I understand why you suggested that! :) No problem.

It's just that, as I said, most of the ones on my tag are paranormal romance anyway, so I didn't know what else to nominate. Still, I'm really interested in the original The Little Mermaid.

I'd be down for A Stranger Came Ashore for the YA read. I came across it in another search a while ago, and it looked interesting.

C.J. Cherryh's Rusalka is an interesting retelling of Russian "selkie" mythology.

I like that The Riddle-Master of Hed nomination, too. It's a long, long, time since I've read McKillip.

Jalilah wrote: "I did not mean to make it sound too restrictive Isabella, I too noticed when I was looking for a Greek. - Roman Myth retelling that almost everything I found was either romance or PN romance."

Isn't that just the way of myth-retellings? They always seem to want to rehabilitate the nasty monsters.

I read a very short selkie elementary/YA book that I remember really liking. Unfortunately the selkie legend is a bit of a twist.Book title: (view spoiler)[ The Folk Keeper (hide spoiler)] Also, it's diary style, which I know not everyone likes.

Lee Anne wrote: "Also, it's diary style, which I know ..."

Yeah, that's rough for the lactose-intolerant readers. ;)

Oh, wait. Diary!

Isabella, I'd be very interested in reading Andersen's Little Mermaid too but it's extremely short.

Patricia McKillip seems to be our best choice here and though I've read The Changeling Sea, which is amazing like all her books, I've yet to read The Riddle-Master of Hed.

Isabella wrote: "IIt's just that, as I said, most of the ones on my tag are paranormal romance anyway, so I didn't know what else to nominate. Still, I'm really interested in the original The Little Mermaid.."

Ruby Scarlett wrote: "Isabella, I'd be very interested in reading Andersen's Little Mermaid too but it's extremely short.


Isabella , As Ruby Scarlett says the HCA Little Mermaid is very short. We can always have an extra thread just for it in addition to the other books.
It does seem fitting!

I still can't decide between Selkies or Mermaids!

It's a shame :\ but I'm okay with whatever else you guys decide :)

Isabella wrote: "It's a shame :\ but I'm okay with whatever else you guys decide :)"

????
It think you may have misunderstood me! I said I would set up a thread for a group read for the Little Mermaid and that I agree we should read it! :)

Oh! My bad haha
I just thought that, since it's really short, we should pick something a little bit longer for a group read :P

Isabella wrote: "Oh! My bad haha
I just thought that, since it's really short, we should pick something a little bit longer for a group read :P"

We did the same thing for HCA 's The Snow Queen a while back.

Isabella wrote: "Oh! My bad haha
I just thought that, since it's really short, we should pick something a little bit longer for a group read :P"

Yep! It is short. But one of the things we wanted to do with these themed months was to read the original versions of the tales along with whatever books are picked for the read itself.

I think "The Little Mermaid" and selkie stories are a bit more vulnerable to being turned into romance novels since romance and relationships are so central to the original stories.

Lee Anne wrote: "Also, it's diary style, which I know not everyone likes. ..."
That book has been on my radar for awhile but I didn't know it is composed of diary entries. Thanks for the info!

I'm going to nominate People of the Sea by David Thomson for the adult read. I promise I'll read it this time!

Hm. For YA, how about Susan Cooper's Seaward? It's a bit younger of a an age range than we usually read (8-12) but it sounds good.

I'm going to nominate The Brides of Rollrock Island, which I think could go in either category. I understand that Lanagan is marketed as adult outside the US, but YA in the US. I personally think adult is a more appropriate designation for her.

Lacey wrote: "I'm going to nominate The Brides of Rollrock Island, which I think could go in either category. I understand that Lanagan is marketed as adult outside the US, but YA in the US. I pe..."

I read that a few months ago, and thought it could go either way, but now, in retrospect, it seems adult to me.

Margaret wrote: "Lacey wrote: "I'm going to nominate The Brides of Rollrock Island, which I think could go in either category. I understand that Lanagan is marketed as adult outside the US, but YA i..."

Oh, and it was quite good! Very dark.

Melanti wrote: "I think "The Little Mermaid" and selkie stories are a bit more vulnerable to being turned into romance novels since romance and relationships are so central to the original stories...I'm going to nominate People of the Sea by David Thomson for the adult read. I promise I'll read it this time! ."

I was considering nominating People of the Sea too! I just could not remember if it had already been chosen as a group read here a long time ago, but it think that was the Endicott group. In any case it missed it the first time around!

Lacey wrote: "I'm going to nominate The Brides of Rollrock Island, which I think could go in either category. I understand that Lanagan is marketed as adult outside the US, but YA in the US. I pe..."

That's a great choice! It almost won a few months ago and I went ahead and read it, but would be happy to discuss it!

Margaret wrote: ",I read that a few months ago, and thought it could go either way, but now, in retrospect, it seems adult to me.

This is not a spoiler since it comes up pretty much at the beginning if the story: There is no graphic sex, but the idea that the men become addicted sexually to the seal women and the way the seal woman appear nude on the shore and cling to the first man that finds them, makes it IMO definitely "adult"

Jalilah wrote: "I was considering nominating People of the Sea too! I just could not remember if it had already been chosen as a group read here a long time ago, but it think that was the Endicott group. In any case it missed it the first time around! "

It was over in the Endicott group, and I think you said you couldn't get a copy from your library? I had no excuse though... I checked it out then it sat on the table for 6 weeks until my renewals ran out.

There have been so many good books nominated that I've been tempted not to suggest anything myself so I'd have time to read all the books mentioned above!

After a lot of consideration wavering between Mermaids or Selkies, I decided that I'd like to delve into the origins so I am nominating:
The Secret History of Mermaids and Creatures of the Deep by Ari Berk
"Since ancient times, seafarers and coast-dwellers the world over have reported encounters with merpeople. Variously known as Finfolk, Dinny Mara, Nereids, Blue Men, and Merrymaids, merfolk have been the source of both gifts and disasters for humankind. Now a lavishly illustrated resource offers insight into the lives, origins, language, and magic of these elusive peoples. Like a siren’s song, this fascinating tome is sure to enthrall all who fall under its spell."

I guess it would count as an original retelling?

For an adult retelling I will nominate:
Selkie Dreams by Kristin Gleeson. It is historical fiction infused with both Celtic-Selkie lore as well as First Nations (Native American) Mythlology.

For YA I second A Stranger Came Ashore

Melanti wrote: "For YA, how about Susan Cooper's Seaward? It's a bit younger of a an age range than we usually read (8-12) but it sounds good."

Does this have a strong mermaid or selkie element? I don't remember one, but it's been 20 years since I read the book.

Miriam wrote: "Does this have a strong mermaid or selkie element? I don't remember one, but it's been 20 years since I read the book. "

There's a short but spoilery blurb about it in Wikipedia's article on Selkies in popular culture and a mention of it in Surlalune's list of Selkie inspired stories

Of course, I haven't read it myself but from that summary, it sounds as if it should be a large part of the story.

Huh. Guess I should reread it.

I'm not nominating this because it just came out, but this looks good: Mermaid in Chelsea Creek.

Margaret wrote: "I'm not nominating this because it just came out, but this looks good: Mermaid in Chelsea Creek."

Oooohh!! I second this one! Sounds really interesting :)

I nominate In Great Waters because the summary really pulled me in. It sounds really different from the usual mermaid stories (i.e: mermaid falls in love with a human and changes herself to be with him and what not :P).

Melanti wrote: "I think "The Little Mermaid" and selkie stories are a bit more vulnerable to being turned into romance novels since romance and relationships are so central to the original stories..."

Very true! There is "romance" in almost all Fairytales and Mythology!
I know you understood my post, but just In case anyone misunderstood and thinks they should not choose anything with romance in it, I just edited my post to specifically PNR series.

Virginia Kantra's Series The Children of the Sea is a great read it's all about mermaid and selkies

We will soon be setting up polls to select the books for our next group read!
This is what we have up to now:

Original Myths
Tales of the Mermaids of Waiahuakua
Mermaids and Medicine Women: Native Myths and Legends
People of the Sea
The Secret History of Mermaids and Creatures of the Deep
Because it a short tale, I believe we agreed to set up a separate thread for:
The Little Mermaid

YA retellings
Of Poseidon
September Girls
A Stranger Came Ashore
The Changeling Sea
The Drowning World
Rusalka
The Folk Keeper
Seaward
Sea Witch


Adult retellings
Tempest Rising
Undine
The Riddle-Master of Hed
The Brides of Rollrock Island
Selkie Dreams
In Great Waters

It's the last day to add anything else! I'm very excited about this next read! All the books look great!

In Great Waters sounds adult to me, so I'll call it that.

Isabella wrote: "In Great Waters sounds adult to me, so I'll call it that."

Thanks kind of what I thought Isabella, although there is a YA tag on it.

Perhaps move Udine over to the "Original Myths" category? It seemed very similar to "The Little Mermaid" when I read it last year and HCA admitted to having it in mind while writing his version.

Melanti wrote: "Perhaps move Udine over to the "Original Myths" category? It seemed very similar to "The Little Mermaid" when I read it last year and HCA admitted to having it in mind while writing his version."

I was not sure because the Mermaid/Undine/Selkie mythology is a lot older than both stories. IMO both Undine and The Little Mermaid would be retellings of mythology.

Jalilah wrote: "Isabella wrote: "In Great Waters sounds adult to me, so I'll call it that."

Thanks kind of what I thought Isabella, although there is a YA tag on it."

I skimmed through some reviews (because I don't want to be spoiled) and they said that this is absolutely NOT a young adult story. I guess maybe we'll have to judge for ourselves, if we read it this month :P

Adult retelling short stories by Patricia A. McKillip Something Rich and Strange .

I read and really liked a collection of short stories that I though was this, but isn't. And isn't anything else by Patricia McKillip or Robin McKinley either, who I sometimes confuse with her.

I read Kit Whitfield's Benighted a few years back and it was so original and exciting, I'm definitely up for In Great Waters.